Anyone ever have the Schneider Weisse Tap X Mein Nelson Sauvin (Weizenbock)? I am a big Aventinus fan, and Giant Eagle now has bombers of this other S-W weizenbock. Not sure I'll drop $20 on one without a glowing endorsement, though.

Kraftster wrote:Tried the Barbãr Winter Bok last night. A good Belgian Strong Dark Ale. Thought it smelled most strongly of sour cherries -- along the lines of Troegs Mad Elf. Dark fruits the predominant flavor, some cherry flavor as it warmed. Slight maltiness/toffee in the finish. It is brewed with honey and the honey is really the interesting flavor. I bet some find it to be odd and cloying. I don't mind it; in fact, I have to think about the sweetness being honey to realize that its honey. Its 8% (low end for BSDA) and you can't taste the alcohol one bit, which is also true of the standard Barbãr Honey Blonde (also 8%).

If you like Troegs Mad Elf, I think you'll probably like this unless you find the honey objectionable.

This sounds intersting. I like the initial taste of mad elf but I hate the finish

Not sure where my post went, but I had a 2004 Dogfish World Wide Stout last night. Ended up splitting it with a friend because it was aged and the alcohol was high on the scale (not often I drink on a work night anymore.) Thing clocked in at 18% when bottled, so I'm sure it was probably closer to 20-21%. Dark doesn't begin to describe it. Aside from the Bell's Expedition Stout that I had awhile back, I haven't seen a stout stick to the glass like this one did. Very chocolaty, tasted some vanilla, some coffee, and a faint taste of hops. The closest thing that I can compare it to might be the Founders Breakfast Stout. I was surprised at the carbonation for a beer that's been sitting for close to a decade. Downside to a beer with that high alcohol content, it got rough once it got warm. Was trying to enjoy it for as long as possible, but the last two sips were brutal.

Trader Joe's Holiday Ale was a supreme find for the weekend. The dark Belgian style ale checks in at 9% and was only $4.99 for a 750ml bottle. Such a switch up from my regular IPA selection of Racer 5 or Anderson Valley's Hop Ottin'. A very full flavored beer with just enough spice to cut through the malt. Nice overall warming feeling after drinking this.

Also had Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale Friday night. If you like brown ales, this is a great beer. For me, too much malt and it tasted too yeasty to have more than one.

JS, was the 2004 in a cellar as it aged, or did you just happen upon such an old beer?

BadHands71 wrote:Just picked up a case of Anchor Christmas. Soooooo happy about this.

hows the taste? does it compare to other Christmas beers where 1 is plenty or can you drink a few of these in a sitting?

it has a relatively low ABV and a pretty light finish to it. you can definitely drink a few

Yes. Everything about it is moderate. The body, spice, sweetness and abv make for a beer that you can drink 3 or 4 and still know what is going on around you. This is why it's a Christmas beer I look for year after year.

BadHands71 wrote:Just picked up a case of Anchor Christmas. Soooooo happy about this.

hows the taste? does it compare to other Christmas beers where 1 is plenty or can you drink a few of these in a sitting?

it has a relatively low ABV and a pretty light finish to it. you can definitely drink a few

Yes. Everything about it is moderate. The body, spice, sweetness and abv make for a beer that you can drink 3 or 4 and still know what is going on around you. This is why it's a Christmas beer I look for year after year.

good to hear, while I like the ST and Great Lakes Christmas Ales, by the time I'm done with the 1st bottle, I really don't want another, it's just too much spice

Had the Dogfish Head Chicory Stout over this past weekend. Very good. I'm still not quite sure what flavor chicory is (nutty, i guess), but the beer was excellent. Big coffee notes. Went perfectly with the 20 minute outside Christmas light setup that took 2 1/2 hours.

Last night I tried the Green Flash Imperial IPA. I've had their West Coast IPA several times, and the Imperial did not disappoint. HUGE hops, though. Very bitter. Lots of grapefruit and pine (I actually commented to my wife that the first couple sips tasted like I accidently dropped a shot of Bombay Sapphire into it). As it mellowed out, it was immensly drinkable for a 9.4%...either that or I was feeling it.

Even if I don't like a certain beer, I can generally appreciate it for what it's worth. Winter Warmer is the only craft beer I have ever had where I took one sip and dumped the rest down the drain. Overspiced grossness.

Even if I don't like a certain beer, I can generally appreciate it for what it's worth. Winter Warmer is the only craft beer I have ever had where I took one sip and dumped the rest down the drain. Overspiced grossness.

I really don't care much for the winter warmers either, but every year I still try something different, not real sure why.

I got a gift certificate to a beer distributor where I live and I'm finding it's becoming an extremely difficult choice to pick out a case. I don't really want to waste it on something I would normally get, but makes the decision that much harder.